Eating disorder characteristics and psychiatric symptomatology of eumenorrheic and amenorrheic runners.

Many studies have investigated the relationship between obligatory runners and eating disorder characteristics. Unfortunately, many studies have failed to consider the effect of menstrual status among females in these studies. The present study examined the psychological status and eating characteristics among amenorrheic runners, eumenorrheic runners, and eumenorrheic sedentary women. The results of the study indicated that there were no significant differences between groups on any of the psychological measures but there was a subgroup of amenorrheic runners who scored in the extreme range on the depression and eating disorder measures. There may be a subgroup of amenorrheic runners who have a significant psychiatric disorder although it is unclear whether it is a major depression or anorexia nervosa. Longitudinal studies are needed to fully understand the interaction between excessive exercise, eating disorders, and depression.